Surrender Your Pet

Have an animal that you can no longer keep? Follow these guidelines to ensure that the experience is as safe as possible for both you and your pet.

DON’T leave your animal at the shelter in the dead of night

Inclement weather (cold, rain, thunder, etc) may cause your pet to suffer both physically as well as emotionally. There is no guarantee that the pet will remain in the container or kennel. Tying a dog to the fence could cause death by strangulation as the dog sees you leave.

DON'T drop your pet off in the woods or countryside

assuming that it can take care of itself. Pets lack the skills to survive on their own and may die of starvation or injury.

DON'T abandon your pet in a house or apartment

you are moving out of, thinking that someone will eventually find it. That doesn't always happen.

DON'T give your pet away to a stranger

You don't know if that person is a responsible owner or even honest. Pets that end up in the wrong hands may be abused or sold to research laboratories.

DO try to place your pet with a trusted family member or friend

one who you are confident will love and care for your pet properly and will keep you informed of its welfare. Be sure the friend or relative understands the commitment of time and resources your pet requires and that they would like the pet because it will be a good fit for their home. Shelters receive many pets from people who knew the previous owners and wanted to help them by taking in a pet, but who did so without realizing the efforts involved in keeping the animal.

DO bring your pet to the NH Humane Society if you have exhausted all other possibilities

Many people are afraid that if they bring a pet here, it will automatically be euthanized, either right away or after a certain number of days. There are cases where animals must be euthanized--usually due to age, health or temperament--but this is done on a case-by-case basis. Please feel free to ask us any questions, ideally before you bring the animal to us.

Surrendering Your Pet

First and foremost you MUST make an appointment with a member of our Animal Care Staff

Please call: (603) 524-3252 x 305 or E-Mail:

We Do ask for a small fee when surrendering your pet

$50

Dogs and Puppies*

*Fee applies to animals from Contracting Towns.

$25

Cats and Kittens*

If you have decided to give your pet to the NH Humane Society, you will be asked to sign a release form giving NHHS ownership of the animal. Once you have signed the release statement, you may not reclaim your pet, so please be sure that you have made the right decision for you and your pet. You are welcome to call us to check on the pet's status.

Medical Records

Please bring any medical records you have for your pet. If you don't have records, please call your vet and have them fax us your pets records. Our fax number is: (603) 524-9539

Pet Personality Profile

We will ask you to fill out a "personality profile" about your pet. The information about its health, behavior, habits, likes, and dislikes is really helpful to people considering your pet for adoption and helps us decide what kind of home would be best for it.

Please be honest when answering these questions; let us know if your pet has a history of biting, refuses to use the litter box, has a serious or chronic medical condition, or any other problem. Your answers help to determine whether or not your animal should be put up for adoption. It is unfair to pass on severe behavioral or medical issues to another family.